Coach Mike Tomlin – Athletes and sports staff is not invincible with the virus, making them decide to temporarily stop the sports events due to the pandemic. Head Coach Mike Tomlin has happily told reporters last Tuesday that two Pittsburgh Steelers players tested positive for COVID-19 but have since recovered and are healthy,
“We have had two positive tests,” Tomlin said on a Zoom call with the media. “It’s guys that are not in our facility. They have gone through the appropriate protocol and are back to work. I’m talking about dating all the way back to the spring of this thing there have been two incidents on our football team.”
A rapid increase of NFL players around the league has been tested positive for the coronavirus, including several reported additional cases that were emerged on the line of cases last week. That prompted the NFL Players Association’s medical director, Thom Mayer, to advise players over the weekend not to work out together until training camps begin in late July.
The NFLPA Teams are not allowed go out on their respective training camp this season, meaning the Steelers will be at Heinz Field instead of at their typical location on Saint Vincent College’s campus in Latrobe, Pa. However, Tom Brady and other several members of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers continued to work out last Tuesday despite the NFL Players Association’s strong recommendation against such gatherings due to the coronavirus pandemic threat social-distancing protocols.
The Bucs players who worked out including new tight end Rob Gronkowski, wide receiver Chris Godwin and center Ryan Jensen — met again at a Tampa prep school Tuesday morning for a two-hour sweating out, according to the Tampa Bay Times. Also present, per the Times, were backup quarterbacks Blaine Gabbert and Ryan Griffin, wideout Scotty Miller and defensive backs Mike Edwards, Sean Murphy-Bunting and Jamel Dean.
Mayer wrote. “Our goal is to have all players and your families as healthy as possible in the coming months.
“We are working on the best mitigation procedures at team facilities for both training camps and the upcoming season, and believe that it is in the best interest of all players that we advise against any voluntary joint practices before training camp commences.”
Tomlin vocally expressed that he’s disappointed not to be going to Latrobe, but he’s hopeful that camps will start on time and the preseason will go as they have planned. Consequently, major adjustments and rescheduling was done by the NFLPA. The pressing rise of cases made them decide to cancel all their future endeavors for the organization.
The coach also clearly stated the team’s position on players who may take sides or to make statements or protest in support of racial justice, saying he supports players who are brave enough to speak up for their truth.
“As an organization and a staff, we have focused our energies on supporting our players and their wishes and establishing structure and support to the things they want to say and do,” Tomlin said. “We spent a lot of group time talking about the on-going issues, the platform they have and how to best utilize it and how to do so thoughtfully.
“Our position is simple: We’re going to support our players and their willingness to partake in this, whether it’s statement or actions. You know my position, I’ve stated it in the past — that statements are good, but impact is better, particularly long-term impact. Those that have a desire to participate in a positive way, they are going to be supported by us. All we ask is whatever they say and do, they do so thoughtfully and with class.”
